The Evolution of Anti-Mormonism
Conclusion
The concluding topic will not just be a review of the previous points. The conclusion will also include the current main accusation against Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon. This accusation #10 is "the lack of any evidence that there were steel products produced in the Americas before the Europeans, therefore Joseph Smith was a liar and The Book of Mormon is false."
In order to put this accusation in perspective, the previous nine accusations had to be addressed. When one declares The Book of Mormon false because it mentions steel, and to date, there is no archeological evidence that has been found to support steel being in the Americas, one needs to have sound archeological evidence to make that claim!
It is a common occurrence that the anti-Mormons who make these accusations also demand facts and evidence to support the teachings of Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon. In return, I ask: What is the source or the particular geological study that states that there is no steel in the ancient Americas? If one does not produce the evidence or the sound archeological process in support of this accusation then this accusation is just an opinion. A scientific fact is that “science cannot be dictated by opinion.”
In review of the nine accusations, every one has turned out to have facts and evidence to support the teachings of Joseph Smith. I have produced a summary of facts and evidence in support of Joseph Smith for each one of these accusations. Now, let us look at the end results of Joseph Smith’s teachings and the anti-Mormon accusations.
| Topic | Joseph Smith | anti-Mormons |
| 1. Metal Plates | Miraculously Correct | Wrong |
| 2. Stone Boxes | Miraculously Correct | Wrong |
| 3. Ocean Crossings | Miraculously Correct | Wrong |
| 4. Duel Races | Miraculously Correct | Wrong |
| 5. Book of Mormon Cities | Miraculously Correct | Wrong |
| 6. Large populated areas | Miraculously Correct | Wrong |
| 7. Christ in America | Miraculously Correct | Wrong |
| 8. Book of Mormom characters | Miraculously Correct | Wrong |
| 9. Horses in America | Miraculously Correct | Wrong |
When the term “miraculously correct” is used, it is with this in mind. Joseph Smith was 15 to 21 years old when he committed to these teachings. At that time none of these new teachings were even comprehensible to the scientific/archeological minds. At the time, between 1815-1830 the anti-Mormons were not wrong or lying. The Book of Mormon was unsupported by any geological fact or evidence.
Now in the early 21st century, it is a miracle that these new pieces of geological facts actually support the teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith. The miracle is that Joseph Smith in the 1820’s wrote the future of archeology in the Americas and the world.
In the eyes of most anti-Mormons Joseph Smith was a charlatan. What is your response now? Are you going to go the way of a sincere Christian looking for the truth or are you going to go the way of the typical anti-Mormon, which ignores the new facts and evidence produced and go find something else that is wrong with Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon?
No Steel in the Americas. Now let’s confront the accusation #10 that states The Book of Mormon is false because there is no evidence of steel in the Americas. This accusation falls directly in line with the above nine accusations. I can guarantee that no archeologist has completed a thorough scientific sound study that supports this “no steel in America” conclusion. In fact, these are the true facts:
- There are thousands of archeological sites in Central and South America that have numerous mounds and areas that are undiscovered and un-excavated. A few popular archeological sites are Teotihuacan, Uxmal, and Chitzen Itza, all in Mexico.
- Most of the excavation and reconstructions of these sites were completed in the 1920’s and 1930’s by European archeologists. Very little have been done since!
- There are literally thousands and thousands of sites that wait to be discovered and excavated throughout the rest of Mexico, Central America, and South America!
When all the potential sites have been thoroughly excavated then we will know whether there was steel in America! In answering the question of "steel in America," one only has to wait. Joseph Smith is running a perfect "nine-out-of-nine." What are the odds he will be correct again?
Comparing the track record of Joseph Smith with the track record of the anti-Mormons—one should place their faith, their belief, and their future on Joseph Smith. An important scripture where Christ teaches about "how to know a true prophet from a false prophet" is:
Matthew 7:15,16,20
15. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Using only these nine anti-Mormon accusations against Joseph Smith it is clear—who’s fruit is of God and who has been gathering grapes of thorns and figs of thistles!
The anti-Mormons always claim that they have to have facts and evidence. It has to appeal to their common sense and wisdom and if not, it cannot be true. Here is what the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints were taught by Joseph Smith, who was taught by Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:2,4
2. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Where are you putting your faith? Paul expounds on this spiritual confirmation:
2 Corinthians 1:12
12. For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
1 Corinthians 2:10-14
10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Notice the spirit is directly connected to "searching all things even the deep things of God."
11. For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Notice here that the true believers in Christ do not seek after what man’s wisdom teach! The LDS saints try their best to follow the spirit of God!
14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
My deepest most sincere respect goes out to the early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who all demonstrated major faith in the teaching of Joseph Smith when all archeological facts and evidence went against Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon. This is how one can gain the tremendous faith that those early saints experienced.
Moroni 10:3-5 –
3. Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
